In his first address as head of State shortly after his election in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa said he will regularly account to Parliament and plans to meet with opposition parties soon to discuss how they could work together.

"I will do all this as a servant of our people," said Ramaphosa, adding he will exercise his duties as president "with humility, faithfulness and dignity".

Opposition MPs opted not to put forward a candidate in the president elections, but instead to call for Parliament to be dissolved and the country hold fresh elections.

The Economic Freedom Fighters argued that Ramaphosa was tainted by his role in arguing for police action ahead of the shooting of 34 striking miners at Marikana in 2012.